Bathing cap



Jan. 12 1926.

J. H. GILSON BATHING CAP Filed June 21, 1923 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

' ltl T ES JAMES H. GILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. "BAT'HING CAP.

Application filed June 21, 1923. Serial No; 646,937.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lni n'ovements in Bathin Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to coverings for the head andmore especially to water-proof coverings whereby the hair may be kept dry, and among the objects of this invention are to' so improvethe construction of such an article that it will reduce the possibility of'water getting inside thereof; to provide a cap of larger dimensions than the ordinary cap so that itwill go over the head more easily and have more room for hair; toprovide a cap having increased wearing qualities, by reason of the elimination of straining, tearing, scratching that occurs whenordinary caps are stretched to put them on; to provide means whereby the headband of sucha structure may be drawn taut around the head so as-to keep out'as much water as possible; to provide means whereby the normal slack of such a head eov'ering' may be drawn to the back thereof to provide means for positively tightening such a construction around the head of the wearer; to provide such a means with an'elastic portion whereby the, same is held positively tightly against the head; to so construct an object of the character de scribed that the headband will-be adjustable to different sized'head's; to so construct an object of the character described that there will be no slippage in the adjusting means; to so construct a cap of the character described that the holding: means for the tightening straps will normally beinvisible; to provide a cap 'of the-character stated having an abundance of room for a womans hair and yet having a snug fit'at its edge; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later'more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the coinbination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and, while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only, and not as limiting my invention.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the con struction shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an "inverted plan view of the structure shown in This edge band is provided with straps- 2 and 3 by means of which the edge of the body portion is tightened around the head. The straps 2 and 3 may be made up of inelastic material, preferably webbing,-or1nay be made of heavy rubber or other material which will stretch but slightly under a moderate pull, and are secured at l'and 5 respectively. The cap may be drawn tightly around the head by pulling upoirtlie straps. Loops 6, 7 and keepers 8 are secured to the back portion of the body 1, and through these the straps'Z and 8 may slide when the cap is tightened on the head by a pull on the loose ends of stra'psQ and 3. The loops 6 and 7 may be of'any suitable material. such'as' metal, celluloid or tiabric,'which will not stretch, while keepers S serve merely as a guide'and may be made of any material appropriate for this purpose. All materials are preferably non-rustable. The buttons 14 may be-of celluloid, niclreled brass, etc. Fastening members 9 and 10 are secured at the ends of these straps and through these fastening members are passed short pieces 11 and 12, of elastic material, such as rubber straps. Buttonholes 13 or other suitable fastening means are formed in or'secured to the ends of the elastic straps 11 and 12 for engagement with buttons 14 or other cooperating faste ningparts'which are conceale'dunderneath'the ends of the bow 15, which bow is preferably made of sheet rubher and serves merely as an ornament and to conceal the fastening-s as shown. Fabric reinforcements are preferably used at all attaching points. It will be apparent that the crown of the cap does not need to be made of elastic material, since it is made large enough to go over the wearers head, butv may be made of some material such as waterproof or rubberlzed silk.

To apply this cap to the head, pieces 11 and 12 are unbuttoned from the buttons l t and the cap is opened up so may be easily placed over the head. A pull is then e2:- erted upon the straps 2 and 3 to draw the cap tightly around the head so that it will be substantially impossible for water to find room to iass between the cap and the head. The straps are then adjusted to the size of the wearefis head by pulling the rubber strips 1]. and 12 through the buckles 9 and 10. The buttonholes ar then placed upon the buttons l t and the cap will be held securely and tightly in place. i Vhen the straps 11 and 12 have been once adjusted no further adjustment is necessary while the cap is being worn by the same person. The straps 2 and 3 being non-elastic, or only slightly elastic, make it possible to draw the cap tightly about the head, while the elastic portions 11 and 12 furnish as much elasticity as is necessary in the ordinary cap. The straps 11 and 12 are slightly greater in width than the fastening devices or buckles 9 and 10 so that they will not slip there through, in ordinary use, but they can nevertheless, be adjusted when this is necessary. When tension is placed on the straps l1 and 12 in applying the cap the portion which is stretched is reduced in width to substantially the same width as the straps 2 and 3. l/Vhen drawn into place with folds in the back, the cap naturally shapes itself to a womans ordinary hair dress.

In this specification and the appended claims the word buckles is used to denote the tongueless, buckle-like members 9 and 10 or their functional equivalents.

It is, of course, understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from Without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having noW described my invention, I claim:-

1. A bathing cap comprising a permanently formed substantially dome-shaped body having an endless edge at its open mouth, tightenin members secured at their ends adjacentthe edge of the open mouth of the body and overlapping each other so that a pull thereon will cause the body portion to be tightened around the head, said members being formed of non-elastic material and provided at their free ends with elastic eX tensions, adjustably connected to the nonelastic portions.

2. A bathing cap comprising a body portion permanently formed substantially dome-shaped and having an open mouth, tightening members for said body, said tightening members being secured at their ends adjacent the edge of the mouth of the body and overlapping each other so that a pull thereon will cause the body portion to be tightened around the head, said members being formed of non-elastic material and provided at their free ends with elastic eX- tensions, adjustably connected to the nonelastic port-ions, the extensions having detachable securing means for securing the tree ends of the elastic members to the body portion.

3. A structure of the character described having a body portion formed around its open edge as an endless band, non-elastic straps secured thereto at spaced apart locations and overlapping so that the body may be drawn taut around an object upon which it is placed, said body being provided v-rith securing means and said non-elastic straps being provided with elastic extensions adapted to be detachably engaged with the securing means.

4. A cap comprising a permanently 'lorn'ied substantially dome-shaped body portion having an open mouth, formed with an endless open edge portion, an ornament secured to said body adjacent said edge, securing means fastened to the body member underneath the ornament, and overlapping tightening straps secured to the edge of the body at the side opposite the reinforcing member and adapted to be detachably secured to the securing means.

5. A cap comprising a body portion, having an open mouth the edge portion of said mouth having a reinforcing endless member on which is mounted an ornament, securing means concealed beneath the ornament, and non-elastic means for drawing the edge tight around a persons head, said last named means being provided With elastic extensions adapted to be detachably secured to the said securing means.

In'witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

JAMES H. eiLsoN. 

